We need civil society engagement in Kashmir

Source: The post is based on an article “We need civil society engagement in Kashmir” published in The Hindu on 12^th September 2022.

Syllabus: GS 2 – Development process and development industry

Relevance: problems associated with killing of Kashmiri Pundits

News: There has been increase in targeted killing of Kashmiri Pundits in the past six months.  This has raised concerns over their right of return of the Kashmiri Pundits as well as the safety of minorities living in the Kashmir.

There are two types of Kashmiri Pundits – a) Migrant and b) Non-Migrant. Migrants were offered government jobs and were given high securities under return and rehabilitation of Kashmir migrants scheme. Whereas non-migrants lived on without any state protection.

But now, with the targeted killings of the Kashmiri Pundits, both feel endangered,

What are the solutions to killing of Kashmiri pundits?

There is no top-down solution to returning of Kashmiri pundits. The efforts of individuals and civil society will need to create positive conditions on the ground. Government can only enable the process.

They will have to encourage people to stop blaming each other.

Individuals or communities will have to look within themselves and build courage to acknowledge mistakes and restore trust.

What was the effort taken by Centre for Dialogue and Reconciliation (CDR)?

Centre for Dialogue and Reconciliation (CDR) started a Pundit-Muslim dialogue series in 2010.

The participants in this dialogue were public intellectuals and other influential persons.

These dialogues created a social environment that enabled Kashmiri Pundits to take up government postings in the Kashmir.

Participants were sharing individual experiences that were often misunderstood by other community.

Participants pointed out that interdependence was not strange to Kashmir and it was grounded in wider cultures.

The Pundit-Muslim dialogue also saw a series of conversation from both the sides and there were different points of views.

What are the grievances of both sides?

In one such discussion, participants expressed their grievances. Fo example;

Muslim participants felt the Pundits did not see the struggle of the Muslims in the Valley who faces violence from the system. The Kashmiri Muslim was always portrayed as being misguided and helped by Pakistan.

While, Pundits expressed their anger that Muslims did not protest the Pundit killings not even when the killers claimed them.

The greater responsibility lay with the Muslims as they were the majority.

A respected Kashmiri Pundit public intellectual observed that the Pundit community too had suffered from a lack of leadership.

If any senior leader has taken the issue to Muslims, then the movements Pundits from the valley could have been stopped. They would have guided the Pundits not to sell their property in a hurry.

What can be further course of action in resolving Kashmiri Pundits dispute?

There is a need of an urgent civil society engagement between communities in Kashmir.

This engagement can create confidence, restore trust and strengthen inter-community bonds.

It could also enable Pundits to fulfil their dream to return in peace and with dignity.